Two New Jersey helicopter pilots have died following a midair collision near Hammonton Municipal Airport on Sunday, authorities confirmed, in what witnesses described as the aircraft “flying close together” just before disaster struck.
Kenneth Kirsch, 65, from Carney’s Point, and Michael Greenberg, 71, from Sewell, were identified as the victims in the crash that initially left one pilot dead at the scene while the other was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Officials later confirmed the second pilot had also succumbed to his injuries.
What exactly caused the helicopters to collide remains unclear. Witness accounts suggest the aircraft were in close proximity when something went catastrophically wrong. “Statements from witnesses had the two helicopters flying close together just before the crash,” investigators noted in their preliminary findings.
The Sunday afternoon crash in Atlantic County has sent shockwaves through the local aviation community. Both men were experienced pilots, making the collision all the more perplexing to fellow aviators who questioned how such an accident could occur in what was reportedly clear weather conditions.
Investigation Underway
Federal aviation officials have begun piecing together the sequence of events. Debris from the wreckage was scattered across a significant area near the airport, complicating recovery efforts. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to release preliminary findings in the coming weeks, though comprehensive reports on such incidents typically take months to complete.
“It’s just devastating,” said one local pilot who requested anonymity. “The flying community here is tight-knit. Everyone’s asking how this could happen between two experienced guys.”
Midair collisions remain relatively rare in aviation, particularly involving helicopters. But when they do occur, they’re almost always fatal due to the catastrophic damage sustained and the limited emergency options available to pilots.
Family members of both victims have requested privacy as they grapple with the sudden loss. Meanwhile, the Hammonton Municipal Airport has temporarily restricted certain flight operations while the investigation continues.
For now, the skies above Hammonton remain quieter than usual — a somber reminder of how quickly things can go wrong, even for those who’ve spent decades mastering flight.
